Cornered by the media and the opposition, and aware that confront uncomfortable questions was a matter of hours due to his impending trip to G-20, Australia, yesterday, a week after the outbreak of fiscal scandal ‘Luxeleaks’ Jean-Claude Juncker broke his silence. He did unexpectedly at the end of the meeting of the College of Commissioners of the Commission chaired since 1 November. Do not resign. Why? He forgot to ask. Tense, a little nervous, admitted the “mistake” of failing to appear before to explain things and said to be the “political responsibility” for everything that could happen in Luxembourg during the 18 years he ruled the Grand Duchy since 1995, when 340 large business benefited from corporate tax and in some cases less than 1%.
So far, the mea culpa. Now the counter. “We will remember that so-called ‘tax rulings’ -agreements between governments and multinationals exist in 22 Member States” slipped after announcing that he will propose the automatic exchange of such information between Veintiocho. One step already proposed by Brussels but always vetoed by the States. “I do not know who vetoes. I’m just saying that Luxembourg, me in front, never did. And I hope that all countries now have enough ambition unanimously approved for Europe to have tax harmonization I have always defended, “he said.
He explained further that instructed the Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Pierre Moscovici, working on new legislation to create a common corporate tax base considering that her “disappear most of the possibilities tax engineering. ” The challenge is considerable and until only a week ago, unworkable. But now …
The scandal ‘Luxleaks’ seems to have been a before and an after, a real coup for prosecutors pseudoparaísos that exist in the EU. What has resulted is that Juncker tilt. He is touched, but far sunk. Because yesterday, which was perhaps his most difficult press conference I had time to reaffirm the position, defend it done, admit mistakes, propose measures against tax evasion and interpret the best Juncker. A couple of pills.
Do you think it is credible to be president of the Commission?
Yes, I’m as fit as you.
The Most
as 50
Why should we believe him now when he says he will fight against tax evasion?
Because what I’m saying.
He assured that “there is no conflict of interest” as the new Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, have the “hands-free” to investigate what happened and analyze whether illegal State aid occurred. So far we have two files to Amazon and Fiat to boost Joaquín Almunia, but Vestager, on Tuesday in the Parliament, there will be more, also suggested that there is another investigation into Apple and Starbucks Netherlands- Ireland.
“There is nothing in my past that says that my ambition was to organize tax evasion in Europe,” Juncker stressed before denying being “the architect of the Luxembourg model because that model does not exist.” In this regard, he explained that in Luxembourg the Government may issue instructions to the tax administration, which is independent of the time to act without having to explain to the Minister of Finance. And as the new prime minister said, Xabier Bettel, was convinced that these were in line with EU and international law. ” But there was a caveat: “If due to the interaction between national laws produced a situation of not paying taxes, then regret it.”
In the afternoon, before the European Parliament, where he came as a surprise, the president of the Commission admitted that there might have been an “excess tax engineering in Luxembourg, but as has been in other countries “. “I will not apologize for anything I did for my country. And do not ever point me as the best friend of the capital. Big business will have better friends than I in this room, “he snapped.
Backup socialist
In the Parliament, all eyes were on the Social Democrats (S & D), whose 191 seats are key to add a loose Most popular with the EPP (221), family policy Juncker (the Parliament has 751). The debate, however, was white glove. The leader of the opposition, the Italian Giani Pitella, gave a vote of confidence as these veteran Luxembourg tax evasion practices’ are not exclusive to Luxembourg, even in Europe. We will not accept weaken the Commission. It would be a gift to Eurosceptics and Europhobes “he said before asking Juncker firm hand and proposals to eliminate tax havens.
No comments:
Post a Comment